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Ducati 748 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ducati 748 car check

Is the Ducati 748 reliable? We analysed 29,046 real MOT tests across 3,162 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 29,046 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.8%
Typical Mileage
14,130mi
Annual Mileage
384mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Ducati 748 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ducati 748.

Ducati 748 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ducati 748. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ducati 748 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ducati 748 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.5%
2004
88.2%
2003
88%
2002
86.7%
2001
87.1%
2000
86%
1999
86.1%
1998
85.9%
1997
86.6%
1996
86.1%
1995
86.5%
1994

Ducati 748 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ducati 748 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 327
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 313
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 128
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 125
Footrest missing 122
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 113
Headlamp aim too high 98
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 96
Registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height 75
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 73

Ducati 748 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ducati 748 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
112 mi/yr
Typical
384 mi/yr
Average
776 mi/yr
Heavy usage
962 mi/yr

Ducati 748 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ducati 748 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 174 84.5% 4,198 6,400 13,454
2003 1,901 88.2% 6,252 9,990 16,142
2002 4,622 88.0% 7,090 10,976 16,064
2001 5,080 86.7% 8,315 13,080 18,868
2000 4,902 87.1% 8,901 13,362 18,638
1999 3,220 86.0% 11,329 15,750 21,296
1998 3,904 86.1% 11,618 15,979 21,948
1997 3,168 85.9% 11,632 17,768 25,146
1996 648 86.6% 11,929 17,250 26,711
1995 1,046 86.1% 13,086 19,186 25,566
1994 89 86.5% 17,477 21,796 27,576

How Long Does a Ducati 748 Last?

Based on 3,162 Ducati 748 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.8 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Ducati 748 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ducati 748 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,130 mi
75th Percentile
20,302 mi
95th Percentile
32,272 mi
Max Recorded
528,911 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ducati 748

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2003

88.2% MOT pass rate from 1,901 tests

Year to avoid
2004

84.5% MOT pass rate from 174 tests

The best year to buy a used Ducati 748 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.2% across 1,901 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ducati 748 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ducati 748 THIS CAR 86.8% 29,046 14,130 mi 31 yrs
Ducati Multistrada 90.7% 30,770 13,843 mi 23 yrs
Ducati 996 89% 17,371 12,635 mi 29 yrs
Ducati 916 88.4% 15,443 15,973 mi 32 yrs
Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet 72% 41,914 48,062 mi 26 yrs

Compared to the Ducati Multistrada (90.7% pass rate) and the Ducati 996 (89.0% pass rate), the Ducati 748 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ducati 748?

The Ducati 748 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.8% across 29,046 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Ducati 748 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (327 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (313), and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (128). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Ducati 748 owner drives around 384 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Ducati 748 models stay on UK roads for around 31 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ducati 748 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ducati 748 reliable?
Based on 29,046 MOT tests, the Ducati 748 has a 86.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ducati 748?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ducati 748 do per year?
The typical Ducati 748 does around 384 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ducati 748 last?
Most Ducati 748 models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 3,162 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ducati 748?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ducati 748?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ducati 748 is 2003 with a 88.2% pass rate across 1,901 tests.